Iquitos (Peru) to Leticia (Colombia) and continue to Bogota

What to expect when visiting Leticia

Leticia is the capital of Colombia’s Amazonian region. With no proper roads into the Amazon, it’s good that this small city has an airport to keep it connected to the rest of Colombia.

Although Leticia doesn’t have as much appeal as other Colombian cities, it is a common stop if you travel from Peru or Brazil and want to connect with other towns like Puerto Nariño. The city also gives you the chance to visit some of the local indigenous communities or you can simply use the city to fly to Bogota and continue your journey through Colombia.

3 ways to get from Iquitos to Leticia

The 3 ways to travel the distance of 372 kilometers (231 miles) from Iquitos to Leticia are by: flight (2 hours), fast ferry (16 to 18 hours) and slow boat (3 days). The journey duration ranges between 2 hours - 3 days and the quickest way is by flight. The lowest priced tickets start from 105 PEN (€27) for the slow boat.

Both the fast and slow boats travel from Iquitos to Leticia via Santa Rosa, where you must cross the river to get to Leticia.

The ferry price is all-inclusive but do not expect any luxury. Also, the travel time is approximate. It depends on the weather and the number or duration of stops on the way.

Kate's insider tip

If you buy a hammock, make sure to also buy two ropes (of about 2 metres each) as they won’t be provided.

To travel from Iquitos to Santa Rosa, you must buy your ticket on the same day of departure. Ferries used to depart from Port Enapu, but according to the latest update, the boats now leave from Puerto Masusa, 2km further north.

Boats depart from this port every day around 18:00-19:00, except for Sundays. Be sure to buy your ticket well in advance and be at the port on time.

Most travellers will sleep in a hammock

From a reader comment in December 2022, we learned that this slow boat also has small cabins with bunkbeds for 200 PEN (€52). An advantage of these cabins is that you can lock your valuables in there so you won’t need to keep an eye on them all the time.

However, most travellers will opt for the more adventurous option and bring their own hammocks. While the lower decks are used to carry all sorts of merchandise, the upper decks are for passengers. You’ll need to choose the spot you want and hang your hammock, which will be your ‘seat’ for the next few days.

The ship has power outlets, but you’ll have to share them with the rest of the passengers. Also, try not to leave your stuff unattended, especially valuables and electronics. You can’t guarantee it will be there when you get back.

Food is included, but don’t expect luxury

The menu aboard can be repetitive and not abundant, so it is recommended to pack some snacks and fruits. You must also bring a good amount of water, mosquito repellent and toilet paper.

The boat makes around twenty stops along the way, with some stops lasting several hours. This means you can buy some food and water on the way too.

It used to be that you needed to bring your own plate/Tupperware and your own cutlery. This can be bought in Iquitos for a low cost, but it is best to double-check if this is needed when buying the ticket. A reader shared that this was already provided for their trip

You will be dropped at Santa Rosa’s main dock where you can follow the only street to the immigration office.

After you get your passport stamped at the immigration office, return to the dock and look for one of the small speedboats. Just say Leticia and they will take you there. Leticia is right in front of Santa Rosa, so it takes about 10 minutes to cross the river.

The boat will drop you at the dock in front of Leticia’s central market. From there, you can walk for 10 minutes to the main square or take a moto-taxi, a tuk-tuk or a taxi to your hotel.

Remember that you have until the next day to get your entry stamp into Colombia in your passport.

Thanks to a reader’s comment, we got some recent updates (November 22) about travelling the other way around. This journey takes 3 days. The slow boat departs from Leticia at 19:00, and you will arrive at Iquitos on the morning of the third day.

Instead of going to Leticia Airport, there is a much faster way to get your passport stamped. You can go to the floating immigration office across the river from Santa Rosa for your entrance and exit stamps. The Colombian and Peruvian immigration offices are next to each other on this small island.

To get here, you can take a small boat or walk from the little bridge in Leticia and follow the muddy trail through the pueblito.

When travelling by fast ferry from Iquitos to Leticia, you first have to go to Santa Rosa. The fast ferries go along the Amazon River and connect Iquitos with the border town of Santa Rosa.

Once in Santa Rosa, remember to get your passport stamped to show you’ve exited Peru before crossing the river to Leticia. The immigration office is near the arrival point of ferries.

Previously, there were three ferry companies operating on the Iquitos to Santa Rosa Route. Transtur, Golfinho, and Flipper used to depart early in the morning from Tuesday to Sunday.

The last time we checked (December 2022), these ferry companies had stopped operating. Only Ferry Amazonas is available to bring passengers from Iquitos to Santa Rosa.

Travel time with this ferry company is 16-18 hours. The boat departs at 17:00, but you need to board as early as 15:00.

Tickets cost 250 PEN (€64), which includes breakfast. Note that you are allowed only two pieces of luggage (up to 30 kg), and every excess kilo costs 4 PEN (€1).

Online booking is not available for Ferry Amazonas. You can only buy your ticket at their office in Pevas 197. The other ferry companies are located along Antonio Raimondi 384.

After you stamp your passport at the immigration office, return to the dock and look for one of the small speedboats. Just say Leticia and they will know where to go. Leticia is right in front of Santa Rosa, so it takes about 10 minutes to cross the river.

The boat will drop you at the dock in front of Leticia’s central market. From there, you can walk for 10 minutes to the main square or take a moto-taxi, a tuk-tuk or a taxi to your hotel.

Remember that you have until the next day to get your entry stamp into Colombia on your passport at Leticia’s airport.

After you arrive in Leticia, you may want to continue your journey further into Colombia. Leticia is only connected with the rest of the country by its airport and the only route offered by commercial flights is to Bogota.

Leticia’s airport, Alfredo Vasquez Cobo (LET), is located in the city’s northern area, not far from the city centre. To get there, you can take a taxi or tuk-tuk for around 10,000 COP (€2.20).

There are two airlines travelling from Leticia to Bogota: Avianca and Latam. Their service is fairly good and pretty similar in terms of quality. Airfares start from 230,000 COP (€51) to 750,000 COP (€170).

Wifi and 3G/4G are terrible in Leticia, so make sure to prebook your flights. Also, this flight is high in demand, because this is the only way the region is connected with all other cities. It is highly recommended to book some weeks in advance to get the best rates. Prices can double closer to the departure date.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.